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New toy to play with. '73 standard beetle. Runs well, no rust! Came from Arizona a couple years ago. Went to Iowa Friday and brought it home. Paint decent, needs interior re-done. Dave J

Took me a few minutes to figure out what the heck 85 miles would do? 80085=BOOBS! We are a sick bunch, I love it!! Dave

Looks like header/exhaust wrap. I see a DEi package in the second to the last picture. Should be available at most auto parts stores. Dave J

Just a few new shots of the 5. Interior. Mascot! Still going strong. Dave J

Time for some maintenance. Did an oil and filter change and replaced the front brakes.

Got the new brake parts installed today. Have to wait for crappy weather to see if problem has been resolved! Dave J Old brakes New brakes

Rears don't seem to be noisy, I did install Wagner ceramic pads on the rear shortly after buying the 5. Part of why I suspect metallic composition front pads were installed at some time in the past. Dave J

Decided that I can't live with the squeakiest brakes on the street, so I have ordered the Prostop drilled and slotted rotors along with their ceramic pads for the front. I will keep you all posted as to whether this resolves my issue. Dave J

So, the brakes are good, but squeak like crazy when the 5 sits over night and it is wet outside or the car was driven in damp weather. Especially bad in reverse coming out of the garage first thing in the morning. Neighbors think it is the garbage truck or UPS on the street! Have tried sanding...

Oh, I am also a strong advocate of pink Hello Kitty engine covers! Unless you think Power Rangers would be a better idea!! Dave J

Spark plugs and air filter. 80,000 on the plugs and air filter looked bad enough to warrant replacement. Not a bad job at all. Oil in spark plug area of # 1 cylinder, I will have to watch this and might need to replace valve cover gasket. Dave J

Do it you must! The rest of us need a goal to shoot for! Dave

Have them re-set the toe-in until they get it straight. Not rocket science! Maybe you got the new guy and he needs lots of practice. Don't let them BS you, yes the alignment is probably in specs, but the wheel should be straight. Did this for a living for many years and had to re-do several. Dave J

Just bought an '07 Sport with 76,000 miles on it for $8000. It was a private individual sale, but $9000 does seem steep even at a dealer. You will love the Mazda 5, I replaced a '00 Taurus wagon and really like the little rascal! Make sure you watch out for signs of the dreaded metal-mites! Dave

Fed Ex delivered the rear shocks and UPS brought the trailer hitch, so I had a busy afternoon in the shop installing them. Easiest hitch install ever! Shocks are also among the easiest I have ever done. I also finally did the rear sway bar bushing lube. I checked the oil while I had it inside...

Just a quick thank you for this informative how-to. My new-to-me '07 Mazda 5 came with two remotes of which only one worked. I assumed battery issue, but no go! This procedure has resulted in both remotes functioning and now I only need to purchase the key section which is missing from remote...

Got the thermostat installed today. Not a bad job to do on the 5 as compared to the same engine design in my wife's Mercury Milan. Dave

Just did this today and have to say that it is much easier in the 5 than the same engine design in my wife's Mercury Milan was. Ford decided to mount the power steering pump where the 5 has the belt tensioner, royal PITA to work around. I will stop by O'Reilly's tomorrow and clear the code. Dave

Automatic. I did notice that the tires are 215-50-17 as opposed to the stock size of 205-50-17, which may give a slightly incorrect speedo reading. Got the brakes on today. Also threw the thermostat code, so I got one to put on tomorrow. Lube will have to wait since I had to figure out why my...

Just got home from the 5's inaugural road trip with me as owner. 550 miles north to see family for Thanksgiving. Fuel mileage was about as expected, no real hard math was done, but it looks to have run between 24-28 on the trip. Most of the trip is 4 lane with 65-70 mph speed limit and there was...